Best of Cake Decorating Stores

Definitely not Willy Wonka fun, this sad, broken and poop brown store looks nothing like what I would imagine a cake decorating store to look like.   And Grumpy and Dopey run it, but never mind, because just being surrounded, enveloped, by the sight and smell of that much sugar makes you Happy!

Before we get to the cups and the cakes of it all, let's just take a moment to raise our eyebrows to the sad and pathetic attempts at kids cakes in Austria?   There is a reason the birth rate is declining - the sperm looks at the egg, and the egg looks at the sperm in the womb in Austria and says "no thank you" before swimming their separate ways.

The reason - MARZIPAN.   Yuck!   Which kid wants marzipan on their cake!   Yuck!

At Bon Bons, a cornucopia of sugar concoctions lies at your disposal.   There are a few things on the shelf but the real treasure lurks behind the counters.   You can get a rainbow array of food colorings, sprinkles, cake toppers, sugar gel pens and more.  

I love sugar pens and have then out at every party.  Kids love writing on each other and licking it off!  

They have stunning cake toppers (it'll cost ya) and give two days they can also make custom toppers based on your designs.

There is no reason to subject your child to an Austrian cake when you can bake a fluffy American one with yummy buttercream icing and princess sprinkles!

Enjoy!
Ruchika

Bonbons Lebkuchen Tortendekor
Wollzeile 26
1010 Wien

Best of Father's Day Gifts

Panic! Don’t. You have time. In Austria Vater’s Day is on June 14 and if you’re celebrating the American one it’s June 20th. I’ll opt American to buy me some more time!

Skip the tie, the frame with a picture in it, the wallet, skip the clichés and go straight for something he’ll truly love.

I have a great batting average (I don’t have a clue as to what number that would be, but I thought guy speak would be appropriate here) with concert tickets. Try for someone new, upcoming, because they are full of wonder and giving it their all, or someone old because you know they are just doing it for the passion of it.

There are some great ones coming up in Austria –


1. Elton John – I’ve seen him and he puts on a great show
2. Leonard Cohen – The best concert I’ve ever been too
3. Abba Gold – J.O.K.I.N.G. sigh that would be my dream!
4. Eric Clapton – Mind blowing in concert 

5. Rod Stewart

6. Norah Jones
7. Jethro Tull
8. MARK KNOPFLER - from Dire Straits who sings two of my favorite songs…Love Over Gold and Why Worry. I’ll be at that one for sure!

Go to www.oeticket.com to buy them or you can buy tickets at any Bank of Austria if you have an account there.

OR…there is always Beers from Around the World.

Go to Bohle on Wollzeile for all things gourmet Austrian. It’s a deli, but they carry beers from around the world and have it packaged in a very cool tool box. You can choose the beers from the countries he loves to create a custom gift.

You could design a beer and tapas tasting evening for him. Pair the Japanese beer with sushi, the Mexican beer with nachos, the Austrian one with a wiener. Oh cancel that thought! The thought of eating a wiener after sushi just made me sick. Just give him the beer!

BÖHLE
Wollzeile 30
A-1010 Wien
http://www.boehle.at/bier.htm

OR…if your man is fancy, book the Jazz evening at Palais Coburg in their Winebar.

It’s gorgeous and Bartender Benny will mix fancy drinks and recommend a Cuban from their Humidor. Slink back, drape your leg over his and watch him smile.

This magic spell can only be cast on Saturday evenings so book now.

OR…if your man is in between Al Bundy and James Bond, then head to Palais Coburg on a Monday evening for some Garden Grilling.

They have live music, a wood grill and open air. Enjoy.

Palais Coburg Residenz
Coburgbastei 4
1010 Wien, Österreich
Telefon: +43/1/518 18-0
www.palais-coburg.com

OR…if your man is an intellectual or just likes to read on the toilet you can get him a year subscription to TIME magazine delivered to your mailbox for 49.95 Euros. Click below. 

http://www.time.com/time/europe/custserv/ti_newsstand.html

For a subscription to the International Herald Tribune write to subs@iht.com. You can also get a yearly subscription for 20,000 points through miles and more.

For a subscription to Conde Nast Traveller go to https://www.subscription.co.uk/custservice/csorder.asp?m=85&pub_id=24

Don’t forget the sentimental winners like handmade childmade cards, breakfast in bed, and handprint frames! And nothing beats letting him sleep in :-)

Best of Dentists

Dr. Germ. No kidding, that was the name of our first Dentist in Vienna. And our pediatrician is Dr. Doczy. Doctor Germ and Doctor Doc!  

Dr. Germ is incredibly nice, very good and speaks English really well. But somehow I wasn’t sold on him so I sought advice on the best in Vienna.

Unanamously Dr. Jens Busk’s name came up. Zayne and myself went to meet him. Our first impression was painted by the wonderful receptionist who greets you with a big smile.

Enter Dr. Busk. He is Icelandic which in it self speaks volumes. He practiced in California for 10 years and he has the kindest, most gentle manner.

On Zayne’s first visit he took Zayne through all the scary looking gadgets in his office. He sprayed Zayne with water, let Zayne spray him. He blew air on his forehead and let Zayne do the same. It was a 45 minute discovery channel journey that led Zayne to say “I want to be a dentist when I grow up.” How rare is that!

I’ve spent a lifetime running away from Dentists. I would rather visit the gynec and open my legs, than open my mouth. Dr. Busk has changed that. I am now a proud owner of a mouth guard and I’m going back for caps.

Dentists always seem to have a certain amount of disdain for their job and you sort of feel like they settled, but you can tell that Dr. Busk loves his job and takes pride in it.

For all of those who have put off going to a dentist, call Dr. Busk and drop jaw.

Smiles,

Ruchika 

Dr. Jens Busk
Lazarettgasse 33/32
1090 WienTelephone: 01-405 2100

E-Mail: office@jens-busk.at 

www.jens-busk.at